Spice Girl Mel C has fond memories of a lively night out with the girls when fizz, fine dining and fun were all on the menu
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A pproaching my 50th birthday, I am learning to trust my instincts again. When we are younger, we are much braver and more courageous. We listen to that inner voice. But the ability to hear it can get knocked out of us, and we almost have to rediscover who we are, depending on what life has been throwing at you.
There are so many things we complain about around getting older – the aches and pains, the wrinkles… but there are so many great things, too. You become less afraid to speak your mind and more self-assured. And you definitely know the value of friendship.
So I didn’t have to think hard about a meal that has very happy memories for me. It took place in 2007 and involved the Spice Girls, Champagne and probably quite a bit of singing. We’d just been on tour in the US and had come back home to embark on 17 nights at the O2 Arena. In the past we would have played Wembley, which is pretty special too, but this was a bit of a residency. We were all on a high and decided to go with our partners to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s in London, for New Year’s Eve.
Mum is a really good cook, and when I was growing up, going out for a meal wasn’t really a part of our lives. We lived in a very working class area and she worked all week; she’d come home from work in a rush to feed the kids. But at weekends she would make lovely meals and we’d bake together, with my nan too.
Now, when I have time, I love to cook with my daughter. My mum gave me confidence, especially when it came to cooking. She also made me appreciate good food shared in good company.
I had been to Claridge’s before and so I knew that the meal would be wonderful. Dining there is such an experience: as soon as you walk through the door you are transported to another era. It is so beautiful and so very British. It has a special ambience; very elegant. Gordon had very kindly organised the big table for us in the conservatory area, so it was almost private dining.
